New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has inspected a Pernod Ricard plant in Bengaluru and collected liquor samples as part of a wider examination of the country’s alcohol industry, according to information visible in the screenshots. Officials also sought documents during the two-day inspection, while sources said the company was asked to improve hygiene and correct markings related to the use of recycled plastic on bottles.
Pernod Ricard confirmed the visit by food safety inspectors and said regulatory inspections are part of the industry’s compliance framework. The company also said it maintains robust quality and safety standards.
No adverse findings had been issued against Pernod Ricard at the time of the report, according to the sources cited.
Samples of Blenders Pride and Royal Stag Collected
FSSAI officials inspected the Bengaluru facility over two days and collected liquor samples for testing. One source said the samples included Blenders Pride and Royal Stag.
The regulator also sought documentation from the company during the inspection. Three sources cited in the report said no adverse findings had been issued against Pernod Ricard.
One government source said the company had been told that hygiene at the plant needed improvement and that markings indicating the use of recycled plastic on bottles should be corrected.
Pernod Ricard said it was working constructively with the authorities. The company also stated that regulatory inspections are an established part of the industry’s compliance framework.
Inspection Comes Amid Wider Scrutiny of Liquor Industry
The inspection took place as FSSAI increased scrutiny of India’s liquor industry. The screenshots state that the regulator had earlier banned several whisky and rum brands belonging to Diageo and some other Indian companies over alleged improper addition of flavours.
Diageo had agreed to reformulate some popular brands in an effort to secure reversal of the bans in some states, according to the report.
In Diageo’s case, FSSAI had also raised issues concerning labelling and the alleged addition of whisky flavour. Separately, around 18,000 boxes of Diageo liquor bottles were seized during a factory visit over alleged absence of markings indicating the use of safe recycled plastic.
The inspection of Pernod Ricard therefore forms part of a broader regulatory focus on product standards, labelling, packaging and manufacturing practices across the alcohol sector.
Pernod Ricard Faces Separate Regulatory Challenges in India
The screenshots also refer to other regulatory and legal challenges facing Pernod Ricard in India.
The company is facing a $314 million demand over alleged undervaluation of Scotch whisky imports. It is also involved in an antitrust case and faces a separate ban in New Delhi over alleged liquor policy violations, which the company denies.
The latest FSSAI inspection, however, concerns food safety and compliance issues at the Bengaluru plant. Officials collected samples, reviewed documentation and reportedly raised concerns relating to hygiene and recycled-plastic markings.
At the time of the report, FSSAI had not made details of its visit public and had not issued any adverse findings against Pernod Ricard.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
